“Oh, Mr. Trenton, I have been looking everywhere for you. There are a hundred people here who wish to be introduced, and all at once. May I have him, Miss Sommerton?”

“Well, Mrs. Lennox, you know, if I said ‘Yes,’ that would imply a certain ownership in him.”

“I brought Miss Sommerton here to get her to accept an ice from me, which as yet I have not had the privilege of bringing. Will you accept—the ice, Miss Sommerton?”

The young lady blushed, as she looked at the artist.

“Yes,” she said with a sigh; the tone was almost inaudible.

The artist hurried away to bring the refreshment.

“Why, Eva Sommerton,” cried Mrs. Lennox, “you accept a plate of ice cream as tragically as if you were giving the answer to a proposal.”

Mrs. Lennox said afterward that she thought there was something very peculiar about Miss Sommerton’s smile in reply to her remark.

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